Anonymous coach voices Mavericks' biggest Cooper Flagg fear

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg is the heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year and a projected franchise player. The general consensus is that it won't take long for Flagg to prove he can operate as a true star on a roster with future Hall of Fame inductees Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.

Though not in denial of his potential, one anonymous coach is concerned that Dallas is setting Flagg up to have to leap over unnecessary hurdles during his first season with the team.

The Mavericks selected Flagg at No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. He was widely regarded as a can't-miss prospect whose size, talent, and versatility created the platform for superstar potential. Finding his ideal role on a roster operating along multiple timelines, however, could prove difficult.

According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, an anonymous assistant coach voiced their concern that Dallas is positioning Flagg to take on a role that doesn't suit his preferred style of play.

"'I just don't like the role for him on that team,' said a West assistant, who had Flagg inside the top 50 next season, rather than higher."

Flagg is a remarkably versatile talent, but if the Mavericks aren't positioning him to be the best version of himself, it could negatively impact his development.

Anonymous coach worries Dallas is giving Cooper Flagg an ill-fitting role

Dallas is currently building along diverging timelines that could be challenging for head coach Jason Kidd to manage. One stream is built around post-30 superstars in Davis and Irving, the latter of whom is currently recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in March.

The other is structured around Flagg—an 18-year-old incoming rookie with generational hype behind him, but an inevitably steep learning curve awaiting him nevertheless.

It's within the realm of possibility that the Mavericks could bridge the gap and compete for a championship in 2025-26. They have a certifiably elite frontcourt with Davis, Flagg, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, and P.J. Washington—many of whom were present when Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals.

In a perfect world, the Mavericks would simultaneously continue to develop a 23-and-under core that includes Max Christie, Flagg, Jaden Hardy, and Lively.

Unfortunately, Irving's injury has complicated matters in the sense that it could force Flagg to play in a way that isn't necessarily ideal. As it currently stands, Flagg and D'Angelo Russell project to be the most skilled playmakers on the roster.

With this in mind, Dallas could realistically operate in a manner that has Flagg playing out of position as more of a point forward than as a simply well-rounded talent.

Russell is a productive player who can space the floor and create for others, but he's coming off of the worst season of his career. Perhaps he'll turn things around, but if not, Flagg will be tasked with running the offense for a team with immediate championship aspirations—at least until Irving returns.

Rather than being incorporated into an offense that will gradually learn to play through him, Flagg may become the point forward from day one. It's fair to question if it's the best option for him.